what do I look for in a webcam

[EvanAdams]

My GF is moving to LA. I was thinking it would be cool for me to get us web cams so we can video chat during the week. What do I look for in a web cam? Any recommendations. I'd like them to be USB and good looking esthetically. She uses a gateway 450 laptop that connects to her router via 802.11. I use a desktop with a Dell lcd monitor with a wired connection. Both of us have DSL

 

[Steve]

I'd start by looking through (for example) Logitech's product listing, can compare features and prices. Obviously, a larger resolution will make a bigger picture (eg. 640x480 vs. 320x240), and so on.

 

[EvanAdams]

well yea that is the 1st thing I did even before posting.

I know that the apple webcam is supposedly amazing. Is that tech in any pc webcams?

Anyone use a webcam?

 

[Homerboy]

hahah "chat"...uh-huh.

the one thing to remember teh higher the resolution etc the larger your upload speed is going to need to be.

 

[BW86]

I have the Logitech Quickcam. Its good when you find a program to use it with

 

[caivoma]

hey bw86 what program do you use ?

 

[BW86]

im actually trying to find a decent program for free, ive been "trying" to use the yahoo messenger but i cant seem to get the supercam feature to turn on all the time. Anyone know a better program?

 

[Davegod75]

windows media encoder works well

just use your computer a server

 

[dannybek]

The better webcams should have a ccd chip inside. The quality is better, and smoother.
Also they can take still shots at 1.3M or higher. For example the Philps Toucam.
I am searching for a webcam myself and I am looking at the philips.

 

[HomerSapien]

I do that with my girlfriend. (im in texas, she is in san diego)
I have the apple isight, which has been incredible, but for pc you may want something else. The video works fine with msn and yahoo but not with aim. The built in mic does not so you would need an external mic. (im currently using it with my pc, but i do have an apple laptop)

I bought my girlfriend a creative webcam that was about $30. She is on dial up and i dont think there is much difference in the two since the connection is the limiting factor.

I would reccommned getting cheap webcams to start off because you really wont use it as much as you think you will. We found ourselves making faces at each other more than talking. It is excellent for cheering one another up on bad days.

 

[EvanAdams]

homersapien that is a great name. Yea that is kinda my thinking, for the bad days. Does your isight only work on a mac?

 

[HomerSapien]

It works on windows xp and 2000 just fine. Video quality is excellent (640x480 at 30fps). The built in microphone only works on a mac though. It asks if i want to install drivers for the camera and mic, but just click ignore and set msn messenger to use a generic iee1394 camera driver. On first use, you will have to adjust the brightness within msn messenger other wise it is set on super bright, which is in the video options in msn messenger. Pretty simple actually. The only problem i have had is when plugging it into my front firewire port, which causes the screen to be split and the top half is on the bottom and the bottom half is on top. No idea why so i just leave the cable plugged into the back.

I have a bunch of friends that use ichat, so using it with a mac is better. More built in controls and camera features that only work in mac. If cost is a concern, get a cheaper logitech. Should work just fine.


Sorry if this is confusing at all. I have been taking tests all week and my brain is fried.

 

[machintos]

What about the logitech orbit? is this webcam any good?

 

[dejacky]

i just got the dynex "pc camera" webcam. It either sucks or I haven't figured out how to make it work properly yet....

 

[heartsurgeon]

the absolute best webcam is the one you might already have!

i have a cheapo tv tuner card (ATI TV VE Wonder) that accepts vidoe inputs.
i have a old camcorder

connect the camcorder to the tv tuner card
set the tuner card input to the camcorder

now you have a "webcam" with autofocus, a great zoom, better optics, and a kickass frame rate.

download appropriate "drivers" from drivers.com to make the tv card output a windows media source,
use messenger 6.2 (seems to avoid problems with firewall ports..i run mine through a linksys router without opening any ports, and it is recieved without problem by my daughter at college through their firewall).

use the cell phone with "free" long distance audio, the internet for the video component...

your best webcam.

by the way, not only can you use a camcorder as the webcam (throuth the tv tuner card), you can also jack a digital camera into the tv tuner card and use it as a video source...i did this with a canon powershot, no problem!